Stevie: Why I've joined Twitter

Lionel Messi, Xabi Alonso and Ronaldo have been doing it for ages - and now Steven Gerrard has finally joined the world of Twitter.

The skipper has set up @SGF08 to promote the work of his charity, the Steven Gerrard Foundation.

Unlike some footballers, however, our No.8 won't be using the social networking site to court controversy.

"I'll be putting tweets out there but I won't be a serial tweeter like some players," he said.

"There won't be anything too ambitious or controversial. I won't be filling the papers with my tweets!

"It's about getting the foundation out there. That's where the Twitter idea has come from. I'm not really a social networker, but if I can use Facebook and Twitter to raise awareness then great. I'm hoping it snowballs and we can get as many followers as possible.

"If someone can give me 20p, 50p or £1 along the way, come to one of my events or bid for one of the items being auctioned then great. Every little bit helps.

"This money isn't for me, it's for the people who need it most - the poorly kids. If people don't want to give us anything but just want to follow us and show support in that way that's great as well."

Gerrard held his latest charity event on Monday - a golf day at The Mere Golf Resort in Cheshire.

The likes of Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger and Jonjo Shelvey were also among a star-studded field - and the game didn't go Stevie's way.

He explained: "I was average for 17 holes and then it all came together at the end and I birdied the 18th.

"I don't get the time to play more than a couple of times a month but I really enjoy it. It helps to park the pressures of being a footballer.

"There are a few keen golfers in the squad. When we get a day off and it doesn't affect your recovery or preparation for the next game then we go to a local course and have a knock.

"Pepe plays off 16, Jonjo off seven and Daniel off five. It was great to have them along and if they weren't injured Jon Flanagan and Martin Kelly would have been here as well. We had 26 teams playing fourball stableford and it worked really well. The golf wasn't great for me personally but all the teams had a good time."

The golf followed by a dinner and auction raised about £40,000 for the foundation.

Kenny Dalglish, Danny Murphy, Mark Bright, Ian Wright and Craig Hignett were also involved, while comedian John Bishop was there before heading off to his gig at the ECHO Arena.

"From day one when I started, the contacts I've got close to throughout my career have always been very supportive of the charity," said Gerrard.

"It's not for me, it's for the kids. Everyone has been great and I can't thank them enough. This was our first effort really on UK soil and it went really well. We've got more events planned and it's about raising as much as we possibly can for the children."

Gerrard's foundation supports charities such as Zoe's Place Baby Hospice in West Derby, Claire House Children's Hospice in Bebbington, Wallasey's Stick 'n' Step, which helps children with cerebral palsy, and Liverpool's Fairbridge Centre, which helps disengaged youngsters who are not in education or employment.

The man himself is happy to be giving back to the community.

"Football has been fantastic to myself," he said. "I'm at the right age and in a good position to be able to give a bit back.

"I'm just doing my bit to help, just as Jamie Carragher is doing a similar thing with his foundation.

"It's been an eye opener for me. Some of the experiences I've had put football into perspective.

"I didn't realise until I started out on this journey how many difficult cases there are about and what a huge range of people need financial support.

"Charities are struggling because of the way the world is at the moment with the credit crunch and some are at risk of going under so they need help now more than ever.

"We have raised an awful lot of money so far and I hope with more events coming up and hopefully with next year's testimonial in the pipeline we can hit some big figures.

"All the money we raise helps those who need it the most - young children who are ill and those who are having a hard life through abuse.

"For those kids who have very little time to live, maybe we can send them on a lifetime experience and do something for them and their families.

"As we go we will try and cover as many different things as possible. It doesn't end.

"I get inundated with different requests from up and down the country. I can't ignore that but the majority of what we do will be Merseyside based.

"I try to do as much as I can in the time I've got and I enjoy it. All the projects we've helped have been touching and striking.

"It makes me feel good to give something back."

Stay logged on to Liverpoolfc.com for our video feature on the golf day later this week and log on to www.stevengerrardfoundation.org for details of the foundation.